KAKAPO

Of the six species of the parrot family native to New
Zealand, the kakapo, Strigops habroptilus, is at
once the largest, most interesting, and least brightly
coloured. Of ancient origin and without close relatives
elsewhere, it once occurred over much of the three main
islands and on the main island of the Chatham group as well.
Long before European settlement, however, its numbers and
range had begun to shrink. It disappeared from the Chathams
before the beginning of the nineteenth century, had become
scarce in the North Island well before 1850, and has been
dwindling in numbers in the South Island and Stewart Island
throughout the European era. In the last 10 years or so, the
only reliable reports of its continued survival have come
from Fiordland and Stewart Island.

Its habitat is mainly mountain beech forests with their
mossy floors and adjoining areas of subalpine scrub, tussock
grassland, fern, and other low vegetation. It has been found
from sea level to well above the upper limit of the forest;
and characteristic signs of the species' presence, especially
when it was more abundant, were well-tended tracks, dusting
bowls, and “chews”. All of these are exceedingly rare and
local nowadays. The “chews” result from a peculiar method of
feeding in which leaves such as those of mountain flax or
tall tussock grasses are frayed and sucked, and the fibrous
residue is left hanging on the plant in a loose ball. Other
foods are berries, fern roots, moss, and even lizards. Kakapo
nest in large natural crevices or specially excavated
burrows. The usual clutch is two to four white eggs and it
has been claimed that all birds breed only in alternate
years. This unlikely assertion awaits confirmation.

Plumage is predominantly moss-green above and
yellowish-green below, with barrings of black and brown. The
face is rather owl-like and there are hairlike feathers
sensitive to touch at the base of the extremely powerful
bill. The species is nocturnal or semi-nocturnal and is
virtually flightless. Its wings, however, are used for
downward gliding over short distances. Its calls include a
resonant “booming” in the breeding season, and various
hissing, screaming, and mewing cries.

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How to cite this page: . 'KAKAPO', from An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, originally published in 1966.Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 22-Apr-09URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/1966/kakapo